CARDIFF Blues will be looking to avoid becoming victims of an East Midlands double when they tackle Northampton Saints at the Arms Park tonight (7.05pm).

The new Welsh regional outfit came unstuck at home to the Leicester Tigers last week, blowing a 19-point lead before going down to a 23-22 defeat.

Blues coach David Young has responded by ringing the changes, with forwards Rob Appleyard and Craig Quinnell and 18-year-old outside-half Gareth McCarthy appearing for the first time.

Appleyard will be playing his first full game since injuring his neck last December.

Pieter Muller, Lee Abdul and Robin Sowden-Taylor, all of whom took the field as replacements against the Tigers, are also in the starting line-up while Jim Brownrigg moves from flanker to second row. A mounting injury toll and international calls have led to prop Darren Sweet and scrum-half Owen Rutley being included among this week's replacements.

Also called up are Cardiff Under-21 products Leon Andrews, Richard Jones and James Malpas.

For their part the Saints have named a squad which reflects their considerable strength in depth.

Even without England internationals Ben Cohen, Matt Dawson, Paul Grayson and Steve Thompson, plus Scotland World Cup squad member Tom Smith, head coach Wayne Smith has plenty of experience to call on. The former All Black has selected three of his countrymen in wing Bruce Reihana, scrum-half Mark Robinson and No.8 Andrew Blowers.

Nor does Northampton's Southern Hemisphere presence end there as Australian Mark Connors partners Rob Hunter in the second row, while former Scotland skipper Budge Pountney joins Blowers in a mobile looking back row.

Cardiff and Northampton met twice in last season's Heineken Cup, with the Saints winning both encounters - 25-11 at Franklin's Gardens and 31-0 at the Arms Park.